76 SUGAR BEET SEED. 



The hereditary tendency was then no longer in doubt. 

 The selection based upon the hardness of the skin of 

 beets has certain original characteristics, for experi- 

 ence has long since shown that the richer the beet, the 

 tougher the skin. An instrument consisting of a rod 

 with a dial indicator at the other end has been 

 employed. This, pressed against the root, gives in 

 one reading the resistance to penetration; the greater 

 this is, the richer the beet! 



"General Remarks Respecting Juice of the Beet. 



The question of the percentage of juice in the beet 

 is also very important in selecting roots with the view 

 to seed production. This percentage varies very con- 

 siderably with the condition of the weather at the time 

 of harvesting; if very rainy, the beets evidently weigh 

 more and contain more juice than after a drouth. Fur- 

 thermore, there is an element of variety; hence, the per- 

 centage of juice of one should be compared with 

 another; after such comparison, the sugar percentage 

 should be determined. There are, accordingly, several 

 very misleading factors with which to contend. 



What is true for moisture is reversely true for 

 excessive dryness. Then the percentage of juice would 

 be less and the sugar percentage apparently greater. 

 Hence, the admitted average of 95 per cent, juice is 

 open to discussion. In most cases there may be cer- 

 tain advantages in estimating the percentage of juice 

 by indirect methods, admitting that the total sugar of 

 juice is the same as the total sugar of the beet; 

 which, in other words, means that it is possible to 

 calculate in the laboratory all the sugar in the beet 

 solely from the juice by pressure. 



Consequently, the weight of the beet multiplied by 

 the per cent, of sugar is equal to the weight of the juice 

 multiplied by its per cent, of sugar. If these calcula- ' 

 tions are made, it will be found that there is a frequent 



